Girls Soccer

New coach pleased with progress of young Wildcats

Enlarge ImageBuy This PhotoLORRIE CECIL/THISWEEKSPORTS South's Asia Williams tries to fend off 2014 Central graduate Brista Phillips during a game last season. Williams, a senior midfielder, is among the top returnees for the Wildcats and new coach Mark Wise.

NORTH

•2013 postseason: Lost to Grove City 2-1 in second round of district tournament

SOUTH

•Coach: Mark Wise, first season

•Top players: Kambra Crist, Lauren Frank and Asia Williams

•Key losses: Cara Calland, Mikaela Couch and Dominique Dosky

•Last season: 11-5-1 overall

•2013 postseason: Def. New Albany 1-0, lost to Watterson 3-0 in district semifinal

Mark Wise brings a wealth of experience to his new position as girls soccer coach at Westerville South High School.

Wise coached the Upper Arlington girls team from 2009-13 and was the girls coach at Reynoldsburg from 2001-08. He also is director of the Upper Arlington Soccer Academy and owner of Columbus Eagles FC, a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League.

He replaced Brandi Tanler, who resigned after five years with the program.

"I like what I see so far," Wise said. "They're young and they don't have a whole lot of experience at the varsity level, but they are working hard, learning and we'll do well for where we're at. We are in a building situation, but we'll do well."

Last year, South enjoyed its first winning season since going 9-8-2 in 2005, finishing 11-5-1 overall.

South's season ended in a Division I district semifinal, falling 3-0 to a Watterson team that went on to win a district title and was a regional runner-up.

Last season, the Wildcats went 4-2-1 in the OCC-Cardinal to finish third behind Dublin Jerome (5-1-1) and Hilliard Bradley (5-2).

"The OCC is a challenge," Wise said. "Our OCC division is tough. It's going to be difficult for us in some of those games, but I'm counting on teamwork. I'm counting on hard work to try to outplay some of the guys that might have a little better skill. ... We have good cohesion on the team."

Seniors are driving force for Central

Central is looking to build on a season in which it finished 11-3-4 overall after losing to Worthington Kilbourne 1-0 in double overtime in a Division I district semifinal.

"I do like what I see," coach Devon Cannon said. "We have a lot of potential. We have a lot of young players that are coming along, but the seniors are really going to be what makes the engine go for us this year."

Last season, the Warhawks finished fourth in the OCC-Cardinal at 3-1-3.

"I have a great group of girls to work with, a great program and a great school. That makes it easy for me to do the job," Cannon said.

North coach looking for improvement

North coach Brett Weiss returns for a second season as the Warriors look to improve on last year's 3-11-3 record.

The Warriors went 2-3-2 in the OCC-Cardinal to finish sixth. They lost to Grove City 2-1 in the second round of the Division I district tournament.

North opened at home Aug. 19 against Olentangy Liberty.

"We always want to improve," Weiss said. "There's a lot to improve on from last year. ... This year we have a lot coming back. We have a lot of experience because we (played) 15 people a lot of the time last year. We should be experienced if all else fails."